Folding ROPS - do you always put it up?

Mosey · Jul 23, 2002

I have a NH TC29D with a folding ROPS. Unfortunately, I have to admit that I don't put it up half the time. I have to fold it down to get into my garage where I park it, so when I use it to mow the front yard, which is pretty much flat, I just leave it down, partly because I get in a hurry or lazy and partly so I can mow under trees. When I mow the back yard, which has steep hills, I put the ROPS up.

How many of you do something similar or do you ALWAYS put yours up?

I'm hoping to get started on a pole barn this fall, which will have a door high enough for the tractor to fit in with the ROPS up. At that point I'll probably just leave the ROPS up all the time and either trim the branches on the trees or use my riding lawn mower to mow under them.

MJB · Jul 23, 2002

Call me a rebel if you like, but I always leave the ROPS down and ride sans seatbelt when mowing. On my 4300 I have the "tall folding ROPS" because of the backhoe. When my ROPS is in the up position it is close to eight feet from the ground to the top of the ROPS. If I wanted to mow with the ROPS up I would have to trim all the trees in my yard to look like flagpoles first. Even with the ROPS down the frame sticks up close to six feet. When using the loader or backhoe I put the ROPS up and buckle my seatbelt. My land is all relatively flat. Luckily my garage doors are eight feet tall so the ROPS will just clear in the up position.

cowboydoc · Jul 23, 2002

I leave mine up all the time but then again I'm not going anywhere where I have to lower it down. I'm also not mowing. If I was in you guys shoes I may leave it down as well. If you are on all flat ground I don't see the harm in not having it up.

Wingnut · Jul 23, 2002

I'm on flat ground so don't worry at all about tipping over ... but there is a reason they call them "accidents" ... they're never expected.
It's a real pain when I have to fold it ... I'm trying to get the garage door jamb up a fraction so that I don't have to always fold the ROPS ... but at least the "pin & spring" fix made it easier.
Never drive with it folded (also have no trees to bump into in the pasture and don't use if for the lawn)

Golfgar4 · Jul 23, 2002

Hmmm /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif. Almost all of the comments about folding ROPS are negative./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif At least from the standpoint that they're a PITA!

I wonder how long it will take the manufacturers to come up with a remote controlled ROPS? Or better yet, one of the ingenious TBN'ers! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Sounds like a challenge to me guys! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Mosey · Jul 23, 2002

I think part of the problem is that they got carried away, probably due to government requirements, and made them too tall. If mine was a foot or so lower I'd just leave it up all the time. It would still offer sufficient protection. Actually, it would offer more protection because, like I said, I'd leave it up all the time, whereas now I don't.

I think a better design would be to have a collapsible roll bar with 2 sizes of square tubing so that the top part fits inside the bottom part (like the way a 2" tow hitch fits into the receiver) and the top slides up and down with pins to hold it in place at various heights.

Mosey · Jul 23, 2002

I just noticed there was another recent post on this same subject "Folding ROPS". Sorry for the duplicate. But, it is interesting to note that the responses on this post were pretty much "yeah, I go with it down a lot too" and the responses on that post were pretty much "don't ever go with it down!".

CSAW · Jul 23, 2002

Does that thing go up? Just kidding, however, I very rarely put it up. Everything around here is flat. I am always worried that I will forget to put it down before I try to put it back in the garage. If I am going to be on it for a long time or pushing it to the limits I usually put it up.

Next question is if you don't put it up do you wear the seat belt? I use the belt when it is up. However, I feel when it is down I would rather have half a chance to get away rather than be strapped to it. Just my opinion.

EdKing · Jul 23, 2002

<font color=blue>Next question is if you don't put it up do you wear the seat belt?</font color=blue>

The rule is No ROPS/ROPS folded down, no seatbelt. If the tractor rolls it will squash you if you are belted in. I have seen it stated in safety manuals not to wear a seatbelt without a ROPS.

dgood1 · Jul 23, 2002

I didn't get the folding ROPs and am glad that I didn't. I don't have the rattle, it's not as tall as the foldable, makes a good mounting point for my work light and makes me wear my seatbelt.